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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that WFH will divide the rich/poor more

167 replies

PipedownSue · 17/06/2021 19:53

There's no denying that most WFH roles tend to be higher paid in comparison to ones where you have to be in a set work place. Just looking at my friends, waitress, HCA, admin assistant, receptionist, retail roles are all dependent on being in a workplace rather than at home. My role allows some home working (25%) whilst my manager does more like 75% at home because our roles differ.
The problem I see with this is that through the pandemic those who have had to work outside the home have been pushed to the limit. Food retailers like my DP have been working flat out, at one point he said that every week was like December because of how busy they were (with restaurants and pubs shut.) I have been working throughout and have worked 50 hour weeks covering for staff absences, those who are shielding, isolating etc. In the NHS we are constantly playing catch up and now most of my colleagues are working longer hours, working to cover colleagues who have left and haven't been replaced.
This isn't a woe is me post but if you compare lower paid roles where the employee continues to pay for wraparound childcare, public transport or car costs, parking, food in the workplace etc to those where someone is on full pay WFH with the added benefits of more time at home to clean, cook, exercise, family time etc. I just a society made up of depressed, burned out, unhealthy, poor people struggling with stagnant wages and an increase in cost of living and those who are well off, happy, healthy and get to live in a little bubble of privilege. Like it is now, but worse!

OP posts:
LibertyMole · 18/06/2021 19:54

I worked in retail through most of the pandemic and it was hell. Now I have a nice work at home job. It is bliss and my dog is very happy.

Life is unfair. Some jobs are awful and badly paid.

I suppose jobs like classroom assistant will be less fought over though now there are more child friendly wfh positions available.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 18/06/2021 20:23

I've been wfh since the start of lockdown and I definitely see disadvantages:

  • huge dips in mental health because we are isolated and staring at screens all day (several colleagues suffering from moderate to severe depression.)
  • having to homeschool our DC and fit that around a normal work day. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done.
  • our DC under enormous stress because they are not at school so not seeing friends or getting a proper education.
  • opportunity to develop at work is very limited while wfh - I should have progressed much more in my job by now.
  • we might never be allowed back in the office, which is incredibly depressing. I love my workplace.

My friends who are working in their workplace (NHS etc) have definitely been working very hard but, mentally, they are faring WAY better than most of us who wfh. And their kids got to go to school.

Tealightsandd · 18/06/2021 20:28

opportunity to develop at work is very limited while wfh - I should have progressed much more in my job by now.

Si shit (and isolating) for young people just starting out (and older career changers).

Tealightsandd · 18/06/2021 20:28

*so

hemhem · 18/06/2021 20:41

Most people I know with young children (and myself) had to cut their own working hours because of not being able to access childcare due to having wfh jobs. I had to go to 50% of my usual hours as i found it impossible to do my job and try to look after my 2yr old and school my 5yr old. My mental health has been at rock bottom all year. My kids missed seeing their friends and going to school/nursery. I miss my office social life and have burnt out from being on a screen all day with no natural breaks or trying to work late at night to make up my hours and try to cover the bills but I can't take it easy at work or I'll be first in line for redundancy as our business has shrunk due to covid. Its basically been shit for everyone just in different ways and i really don't see any point in comparing who has had it worse. Its been awful all round as far as I can tell.

namechange6754 · 18/06/2021 20:41

opportunity to develop at work is very limited while wfh

I wouldn't say this is universal, I've been promoted up a grade within 18 months of starting and it's mostly WFH.

Crowsaregreat · 18/06/2021 20:42

Agreed, it's also bad for older people who may be less tech savvy and younger people who need role models and who have more limited space.

I'd like it if we embraced hot desking, you have a neighbourhood office so limited commute but not quite working from home.

tigger1001 · 18/06/2021 20:45

@hemhem

Most people I know with young children (and myself) had to cut their own working hours because of not being able to access childcare due to having wfh jobs. I had to go to 50% of my usual hours as i found it impossible to do my job and try to look after my 2yr old and school my 5yr old. My mental health has been at rock bottom all year. My kids missed seeing their friends and going to school/nursery. I miss my office social life and have burnt out from being on a screen all day with no natural breaks or trying to work late at night to make up my hours and try to cover the bills but I can't take it easy at work or I'll be first in line for redundancy as our business has shrunk due to covid. Its basically been shit for everyone just in different ways and i really don't see any point in comparing who has had it worse. Its been awful all round as far as I can tell.
I agree.

There has been issues for almost all as a result of covid whether furloughed, working, in work or wfh. Each have their issues - work for some and not for others.

Instead of comparing situations we should support others

dementedma · 18/06/2021 20:46

Wfh is awful. I hate it and cant wait until we are allowed back into the office. The rich/poor divide will be between those who enjoy wfh because they have a home office or spare room, and those who hate it because they are working from a kitchen table or bedroom.

NannyAndJohn · 18/06/2021 20:49

Not sure why people are saying WFH is so bad for younger workers.

I manage a team of mostly recent graduates and they all seem to be coping ok. Plenty of online social events. Those who are still living with parents must be saving shedloads.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 18/06/2021 21:30

@namechange6754

opportunity to develop at work is very limited while wfh

I wouldn't say this is universal, I've been promoted up a grade within 18 months of starting and it's mostly WFH.

That's great! Well done Star

I agree that it shouldn't be the case, but most of our normal development opportunities became unavailable during lockdown. I think my employer has just been too busy trying to make the organisation work. Great employer usually, so it's been disappointing.

hemhem · 18/06/2021 21:36

@nannyandjohn the graduates in my team have had very different experiences depending on who they live with. The ones from a UK background with stable family relationships who are living in a large family home have generally coped well but have found it hard to develop peer relationships. The ones who have been in flatshares, HMOs, or alone, or who have recently moved to the UK from overseas to start a new job have struggled ime. We've had a record number of people on sick leave due to stress, depression and related mental health issues including lots of under 30s age group

namechange6754 · 18/06/2021 21:56

@DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy thank you SmileI work in the civil service so I think most CS organisations have been a bit ahead of the curve with home working and it's potential, hopefully others will follow suit!

dementedma · 19/06/2021 13:00

I am wfh -hate it- and recently had to go to France for the death of my oldest friend. My 10 days quarantine when I got back had to count as annual leave, even though I was working during it.

PavlovsDoggie · 19/06/2021 16:08

I do understand your point OP, but it is very specific to different businesses.

In our case most of the technical work we've had to do from lab, premises, etc. due to equipment, health and safety, etc. Our lower paid areas, such as IT, accounts, admin have been mostly able to work from home.

Taswama · 19/06/2021 19:05

Why on earth would you work if you are being forced to take annual leave? They can't have it both ways surely?

Sorry for your loss Flowers

Dongdingdong · 20/06/2021 12:28

Plenty of online social events.

Hardly the same as face to face though is it? Sounds awful.

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